The actor William Russell - who played the Doctor's companion Ian Chesterton - will be portrayed in the biopic by Waterloo Road's Jamie Glover, according to Doctor Who News.

Jemma Powell (Alice in Wonderland) has been cast as Jacqueline Hill - the actress who played Ian's fellow TARDIS traveler Barbara Wright - while Claudia Grant will play Carole Ann Ford, who starred as the Doctor's granddaughter Susan until 1964.

"It's a real labor of love for me and I'm just really thrilled that everything's come together for the 50th," he said. "It just seems exactly the right time and a wonderful cast, and it's a very lovely story."